Whitney boys basketball warming up

The Whitney High varsity boys basketball team closed out the Del Oro Invitational Tournament, Saturday, by defeating Oakmont High, 54-38.
Evan Orrick led the Wildcats’ traveling squad with 19 points. Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick added 11 as the maroon-and-gold picked up their seventh win of the season.
Bella Vista _ The Broncos spoiled Whitney’s chances of making it into the championship game by slipping past the ‘Cats, 41-40, in the semifinals, Friday.
Bella Vista opened a 14-point bulge by the end of the second quarter, and then held off Whitney down the stretch. The Wildcats held the Broncos to just 10 points in the second half, but came up a point short in closing the gap.
Sean Smith scored 14 for Whitney, Cope-Fitzpatrick posted eight points.
Bella Vista spoiled the home club’s bid to win their own tournament by turning back the Golden Eagles, 69-63, in the championship game.
Capital Christian _ The Wildcats cruised past the Cougars in the opening round of the Golden Eagles’ tournament racking up 72 points to their opponent’s 57.
Capital Christian tried to keep pace, but the Wildcats continued to widen their lead in each quarter. The Cougars’ scoring deficit was only four points in the final half, but Whitney had built an 11-point lead by intermission.
Smith again led the maroon-and-gold with 16 points, Matt Gruber chipped in 14. Senior Cope-Fitzpatrick, who played steady throughout the tournament, scored 10.
Orrick is leading the team in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per contest. Smith has been scoring better than a dozen per game, and Nolan Eger is averaging 9.8.
The Wildcats improved to 8-3 on the season, after defeating Monterey Trail (0-7-1), 77-51, Tuesday, in Elk Grove.
Orrick improved on his average with 19 points, Anthony Davena had 13, and Gruber 12.
They face Del Oro at home, Friday, before hosting the WHS Winter Classic, Dec. 28-30.
E-mail Placer Herald Sports at jiml@goldcountrymedia.com
Whitney Winter Tournament
Dec. 28-30
OPENING ROUND
2 p.m. – Center vs. Capital Christian
3:30 p.m. – California vs. Laguna Creek
5 p.m. – Del Oro vs. Hoover
6:30 p.m. – Whitney vs. North Valleys
Del Oro Invitational Tournament
Dec. 8-9-10
Whitney 54, Oakmont 38
Wildcats – 10 16 14 14 – 54
Vikings – 8 10 12 8 – 38
Bella Vista 41, Whitney 40
Broncos – 12 19 7 3 – 41
Wildcats – 6 11 10 13 – 40
Whitney 72, Capital Christian 57
Wildcats – 16 21 15 20 – 72
Cougars – 11 15 14 17 – 57